Adam Ereli Department Quotations

Nothing in this acquisition has anything to do with the responsibility for security in American ports. That remains very firmly in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security. What we're talking about is the management of some port operations.

The secretary and the State Department believe that questions of the committee should be answered. Secretary Powell is answering requests for information, the way that we do, the way that any American citizen does.

Our dealings with Venezuela and our contacts with Venezuela are mostly through our embassy. There was a Venezuelan official here a couple of weeks ago, met with Assistant Secretary Shannon and other State Department officials, but there's been no recent contact from Assistant Secretary Shannon to the government or plans for a visit.